Just Josh laughed. “Elaine has been obsessed with Landon since middle school. If she were my type, I’d consider hertheone that got awayafter reading the beautiful love letter she wrote me in sixth grade. Instead, I got a front row seat at every high school function and college party where she tried to get Landon’s attention.”
“You sound heartbroken,” I deadpanned.
“Totally crushed.” He flashed me a toothy grin. “No, thankfully, it became clear around the same time that she was definitelynotmy type.”
When he smirked, my eyebrows rose, and I scrutinized his face. “So, you prefer…brunettes?”
He laughed. “Yeah, sure. Go with that.” Waving off the subject, he nodded at Elaine. “Everyone knows she’s been gunning for you and yourclosefriend, Landon, ever since he rejected her fully. White Knight aside, her family’s attempt at a betrothal coup meant she also went after your otherpal, Kingston, in some weird,I’ll-never-understand-femalestype of revenge plot.”
Thrown by our total lack of subtlety, I shot him a glare. “What’s your point, Just Josh?”
“My point is you have every right to want to kick her ass, andeveryoneknows it. Including her.” He leaned close and directed my gaze to my opponent. “She’s trying to bait you and figure out how to hurt you as much as possible. Stop. Letting. Her.”
I frowned, eyeing him suspiciously. “And this advice, it just comes with the training?”
“We’re not putting you in a ring with each other before the end of this. So, yeah. The point of our training is so you get to know your opponents. Learn their weaknesses and strengths. How to read them quickly. So you can protect what’s yours.”
“You realize no one actually tells us the point of anything we do here, right?”
Josh ignored my comment, staring pointedly instead.
Eventually, I nodded, taking his advice but struggling to believe any Knight here would be on my side so easily.
Or actively trying to help me succeed.
It was his job to train us all fairly, but I expected the short end of the stick. An order handed down by their parents.
Or whatever rich, elitist fucks did to make sure the poor girl didn’t walk away with the prize.
As if reading my thoughts, Josh laughed. “Your face? It’s an open book. Mostly filled with skepticism, but also everything you’re feeling. Right now, and as she makes those digs, you’re handing her what she needs to pull your focus. On a silver platter.”
“Got it.” I grumbled under my breath, hating to admit that he was right. I rolled my neck muscles and shook out my arms. “Control my face.”
“Contain your emotions. They’ll only cloud your judgment, and if she’s doing that on purpose, it means she’s not as distracted as you think. As soon as you’re hellbent on rage, she’ll knock you on your ass.”
I stared at my opponent, who was flirting with her trainer Brad as if she’d forgotten about her fake future husband and all his hypothetical babies. Until she glanced my way and rubbed her lower belly.
Just that fleeting reminder pulled a growl from my throat.
Josh chuckled. “You going to let her get away with that?”
I pushed to my feet. “Over my dead body.”
“That’s the slightly overzealous spirit!” With a final clap on my shoulder, Josh directed me out of the ring. “Now, thankfully, that’s all the time we have. You can put your newfound skills and all that feminine rage to good use after lunch.”
“Seriously? I don’t get another go at her now?”
“Time’s up.” He shrugged. “I don’t make the rules.”
“Who does?” I exclaimed, throwing my hands up. Then, exhaling heavily, I plopped back down and slumped in my seat.
He smiled gently before nudging me to get going.
“Alright, alright. I hear you.” I got up and ducked under the ropes. “Thanks.”
“No problem. It’s my job, right?” He waved me toward my stuff, but threw me a wink before I took off. “I also bet Brad a grand that you’d kick her ass. Figuratively, of course. So, I need you to apply this valuable lesson I’m teaching you at our next session.”
My eye roll lacked any true dismissiveness, and his advice would be more necessary than ever with my next sparring partner, so I appreciated it.
